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The Canadian Government has urged against travel to parts of the southern Philippines due to a serious threat of terrorism and kidnapping.

Canadians have been urged to avoid all travel to Western and Central Mindanao and the southern Sulu Sea, including the waters south of Palawan.
Be careful out there!!

The advice, issued today (Wednesday, May 8), says this is “due to the serious threat of terrorist attacks, kidnapping, high levels of criminality, and violent clashes between the military/police and terrorist or rebel groups”.

It also highlights the risk of piracy in the waters south of Palawan island.

The Canadian government issues “avoid all travel” advisories only when it determines that there is an, “extreme risk to your personal safety and security”. As a result, it says: “You should not travel to this country, territory or region. If you are already in the country, territory or region, you should consider leaving if it is safe to do so.”

Furthermore, the government is advising that Canadians should avoid all “non-essential travel” to Eastern Mindanao, for the same reasons given above.

However, the advisory does note that conditions in Eastern Mindanao are more stable than in Western Mindanao. “Non essential travel” means that there, “are specific safety and security concerns that could put you at risk”. As a result, tourists should determine whether they need to be in the country. If not, they should consider leaving while it is still safe to do so.

The “avoid non-essential travel” advisory covers the following provinces:

I lived on Mindanao island just north of Davao city for a year. I never felt unsafe there. I used common sense and never wondered around at night. Even in day time I stayed with crowds of people. Never went down back streets by myself. I never did this even in my own city in the USA. Common sense goes along ways.

it depends on where in Zamboanga Del Norte you are at. Dipolog is the capital of Zamboanga. That area is not bad. the main thing is be far away from Marawi city as possible in Del Norte. Just don't flash wealth, don't go out at night, stay with groups of people in day time and etc. Just like my other post. Use common sense.

Also the government is going to issue warnings for the whole region for their liability stand point.

it depends on where in Zamboanga Del Norte you are at. Dipolog is the capital of Zamboanga. That area is not bad. the main thing is be far away from Marawi city as possible in Del Norte. Just don't flash wealth, don't go out at night, stay with groups of people in day time and etc. Just like my other post. Use common sense.

Also the government is going to issue warnings for the whole region for their liability stand point.

art

Hey Art,
Thank you for that. I think that I’ll stick to Cebu and points north. No sense tempting fate. Hahaha

The Canadian Government has urged against travel to parts of the southern Philippines due to a serious threat of terrorism and kidnapping.

Canadians have been urged to avoid all travel to Western and Central Mindanao and the southern Sulu Sea, including the waters south of Palawan.
Be careful out there!!

The advice, issued today (Wednesday, May 8), says this is “due to the serious threat of terrorist attacks, kidnapping, high levels of criminality, and violent clashes between the military/police and terrorist or rebel groups”.

It also highlights the risk of piracy in the waters south of Palawan island.

The Canadian government issues “avoid all travel” advisories only when it determines that there is an, “extreme risk to your personal safety and security”. As a result, it says: “You should not travel to this country, territory or region. If you are already in the country, territory or region, you should consider leaving if it is safe to do so.”

Furthermore, the government is advising that Canadians should avoid all “non-essential travel” to Eastern Mindanao, for the same reasons given above.

However, the advisory does note that conditions in Eastern Mindanao are more stable than in Western Mindanao. “Non essential travel” means that there, “are specific safety and security concerns that could put you at risk”. As a result, tourists should determine whether they need to be in the country. If not, they should consider leaving while it is still safe to do so.

The “avoid non-essential travel” advisory covers the following provinces:

I was in Sindangan (80km) south of Dipolog throughout April, saw a few soldiers, a couple more manned checkpoints etc ... still felt safer than Detroit, Chicago, or New York , as others have said, common sense is key

I was in Sindangan (80km) south of Dipolog throughout April, saw a few soldiers, a couple more manned checkpoints etc ... still felt safer than Detroit, Chicago, or New York , as others have said, common sense is key

all think that until they disappear. I know many many pilipinos who are from Mindanao who say don't go there. I loved living there but again,maybe I was lucky.

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